Pensions vary per state. In California, police pensions are mostly aggregated in an organization that specializes in administering public sector state/local emp

Pensions vary per state. In California, police pensions are mostly aggregated in an organization that specializes in administering public sector state/local employees (except teachers) called CalPERS. The department pays into the pension for the employee if I have my facts straight. Some cities have gone bankrupt because they chose not to do this. Police unions largely exist for setting the employment contracts, lobbying (err “bribing” if you aren’t in the US) legislators for favorable legislation language, and to assist union members if they get into administrative problems (like being caught on camera killing an unarmed civilian) or if they are disabled/killed.